Arlington man accused in jogger attacks to remain in jail

An Arlington man accused of two attempted kidnappings in the past year in his neighborhood will remain in jail without bond while the cases are pending, a judge ruled Wednesday.

St. Roland Jean-Charles was arrested on Dec. 19 last year after a woman jogger said a man ran toward her, knocked her to the ground and put his hand over her mouth as he tried to drag her away. The attack occurred between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. in the 12000 block of Longleaf Oak Trail near I-40 and New Airline Road.

Jean-Charles, 33, who lives nearby on Hidden Trail, was arrested a short time later while jogging in the area after officers said he fit the description of the attacker. The victim then identified him as the man who attacked her.

He was released on $30,000 bond and is scheduled to be tried in April on charges of attempted kidnapping and assault.

In October, an 11-year-old girl walking in the same area of Longleaf Oak Trail said a man jumped out from behind several evergreen trees, began running toward her with his arms open and attempted to grab her. She told sheriff's officers she began walking away quickly, then began running as the man chased her and again tried to grab her.

The girl said the man watched from the street when she got to a friend's front porch and that he finally left when someone came to the door. She later identified Jean-Charles from a photo spread as her attacker.

When he was arrested earlier this month on the new case, his bond from the previous case was revoked.

Attempted aggravated kidnapping charges were dismissed for lack of probable cause on Nov. 5 by General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Loyce Lambert-Ryan, but the case still will be presented to a grand jury for indictment next month.

On Wednesday in Criminal Court, defense attorney Blake Ballin asked a judge to reinstate the original bond, arguing that both cases hinge only on eyewitness identifications. He said Jean-Charles has a master's degree, owns rental property, is a father and is "an upstanding citizen" with no prior criminal record.

State prosecutor Meghan Fowler argued against any bond, calling the defendant a danger to the community.

"He's terrorizing his own neighborhood," she said. "We can't insure the safety of the community if he's released."

Criminal Court Judge W. Mark Ward ruled that Jean-Charles had forfeited his right to a bond by violating conditions of his previous bond by getting arrested on the new charge.